Real's Ronaldo injured ahead of key matches

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Cristiano Ronaldo will miss Real Madrid's next match and is in doubt for the team's Champions League semi-final game at Manchester City.

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said yesterday that Ronaldo's injury "wasn't serious," but he could risk aggravating the muscle he pulled in his right leg if he played at Rayo Vallecano today.

Zidane said he hoped Ronaldo would be back for Tuesday's trip to England to face City in the first leg of the semi-finals.

"He knows that he can't be with us tomorrow, both he and the team are thinking about Tuesday," Zidane said.

tests revealed

Shortly before Zidane spoke, Real Madrid issued a statement saying that medical tests revealed that Ronaldo had pulled a muscle in his right thigh during Wednesday's victory over Villarreal.

Real Madrid trail league leaders Barcelona and second-place Atletico Madrid by one point with four rounds left. Ronaldo, with 47 goals in 44 matches in all competitions, had played in every league match this season.

Real Madrid will still be favoured against Rayo. They have won eight straight league matches and have beaten Rayo in their last 12 meetings.